mini project: Another cb360

[HOOLIGAN]

So I picked up a 1974 Honda CB360 just before the holidays for $500 with about 6400 miles on the dial and was the dude's daily driver until last July.

Here's what it looked like when I got it.

This will most likely be a slow project as I'll only be able to work on it during weekends but I'm hoping to get it done by the spring. Here's what I'm hoping to do:

• Chop front and rear fender - I'll be painting them but not sure of the colour scheme yet. Was thinking silver or gray.
• Change OEM tail light/turn signals and use mini turn signals from eBay and a lucas tail light from Cycle Re-cycle.
• Clean rust of the headers/mufflers.
• Clean forks and paint black.
• Clean the inside of the tank. There's a little bit of rust.
• Clean the spokes/rim/hub without removing the tires.
• Install a drag bar.
• Change a few cosmetics things like mirrors, grips, etc.

Since this is the first time I've done anything like this, I'm pretty much flying by the seat of my pants. I know that I'll probably run into some problems but I was wondering, with what I have planned, should I be doing anything else. For example, since I'm taking off the forks should I paint the upper and lower triple trees? But if I take out the triple tree will I need to remove/replace everything in the tube. What I'm concerned about is a cascading effect where one thing leads to another and I'll be working on the bike till next winter. Hope that makes sense but any suggestions on some small things would be great.

Anyways, I finally got some time over the weekend and slimmed it down a bit.

Also got some extra parts when I bought it - tank, side covers, tail light with bracket and front fender.

I read somewhere in the forum that wd40 and some steel wool would clean up some surface rust on the forks, sand paper would work on the hubs/spokes but looking for other alternatives if they're out there. Does coke and aluminum foil really work?

Anyways, that's it for now. I'm hoping to get everything off next weekend and start with all the cleaning. Here's a couple of pictures just coz I know you guys like pictures.

 

[BigBSBusa]

Should be a fun project. Have read that the coke and aluminum foil tip works well for removing rust, but haven't tried it myself. I removed the triple tree on my bike and did not replace the inner stuff just taped it up before prepping for paint.

 

[Deviant1]

Great bike, great deal, great plan!
I know what ya mean about the cascading effect. When I started in on my bike, it was supposed to be just a mild cafe freshening up, but every day it seems like more stuff pops up that needs to be done before she goes back to daily driver status.
Looking forward to more!

 

[garagedoreen]

looks like that transformation has started. yeah should be a fun project. i do understand the snowball effect in building things. but if your going to start with the front end its not too much involved. if you plan on painting some stuff anyways. You can update the bearings in the triple tree for not too much. I bought my bearings on ebay. I had a little problem with them but got it figured out. take a look at my bike build so you dont make the same mastake as i did. Only a few parts to replace. And for the forks its just the tube seal, inner shock rings, and a couple of copper washers and that should be it. probibly less then 20 bucks in parts. Just something to keep in mind.

good luck on the build. keep us posted!

 

[chrisf]

For example, since I'm taking off the forks should I paint the upper and lower triple trees? But if I take out the triple tree will I need to remove/replace everything in the tube. What I'm concerned about is a cascading effect where one thing leads to another and I'll be working on the bike till next winter. Hope that makes sense but any suggestions on some small things would be great.

That's what happened to me. I was doing a powdercoat batch and one thing led to another. Now I have half a bike in pieces. I'm not that worried because I've done two complete tear-downs before, but this one is a bit unsettling for some reason.

Were I in your position, I'd do the bare minimum to make you happy--whatever that is. Then ride it around for the summer. After getting familliar with the bike, you'll know what you like and what you don't.

Checlk out the CB360 I built: http://www.motofiaccone.com/moto/39-cb360-cafe-racer

--HTH, Chris

 

[HOOLIGAN]

Thanks for all the encouragement and advice guys, greatly appreciated. I have a question about manuals. I have the shop manual and I'm finding it not as detailed as I would like. What do you guys think about Clymer or Haynes manuals? Better or worse?

 

[garagedoreen]

I have both. They both are missing some stuff. you can download the factory one for free. and by one of those books. should have most of the info you would need. and if they dont have the info. just ask the board. Im sure somebody would know if its not in the book. i came by a few problems. and the message board really helped me out. just becarefull of who you trust.

 

[Kev Nemo]

I think I'm more disturbed that someone would run a Windjammer on that small-ass bike!
Looks like it's in good hands now. Don't worry about the snowball effect-alot of times you'll find scary stuff that you didn't know you needed to fix along the way.

 

[HOOLIGAN]

So I took off the headers and the pipes today and used a wire cup on the headers. There was a lot more rust than I hoped and even some pitting in some spots. I can't afford to buy new headers and was wondering if there was any way of fixing this. I was thinking of maybe painting them and wrapping them but that wasn't in the plans for this year. Any other suggestions would be great.

I also got a wolfcraft wire cup from home depot for my angle grinder and I was pretty much a porcupine by the end of my session. Just wondering if that's due to my technique or the wire wheel being cheap quality...

 

[Dizzy]

I had my headers Thermo Balsted...worked great.

 

[HOOLIGAN]

Thanks Dizzy, I'll have to look into that. Is it kind of like sandblasting?

Anyway, decided to clean my exhausts while I watched the Habs game.

Came out pretty good after the 1st period...

Coming along slowly but getting there...

 

[philos1]

Pretty much all wire wheels will stab the shit out of your forearms... wear long sleeves and eye protection.

I agree that getting the bike to riding shape with minimal stuff will make it more fun, then you can jump in again next winter for the full monty. CB360s are a great bike and I think a little under appreciated.

 

[BigBSBusa]

Those look great! Need to do that to mine or find a new exhaust . . . no money for a new exhaust so guess there is no real choice to make.

 

[HOOLIGAN]

Import lesson learned today, righty tighty, lefty loosey!!!!!!! Probably the first mistake of many... In my haste I broke the bolt on one of my front forks.

After a brief bout of turrets, it looks like the part is replaceable. Anyone have to replace this before? Can I just look for a replacement at Home Depot or something, or will I have to get the OEM part?

Any tips on how to remove the bolt? Tried putting it in a vise and using vise grips to remove but it's not budging.

 

[CThor]

Is there enough threads left to get 2 nuts onto it? If so maybe put it in the vise then put the 2 nuts on the threaded part and your wrench on the lower one. Could prob spray some PB Blaster on there first too if you haven't done that already.

 

[garagedoreen]

Import lesson learned today, righty tighty, lefty loosey!!!!!!! Probably the first mistake of many... In my haste I broke the bolt on one of my front forks.

After a brief bout of turrets, it looks like the part is replaceable. Anyone have to replace this before? Can I just look for a replacement at Home Depot or something, or will I have to get the OEM part?

Any tips on how to remove the bolt? Tried putting it in a vise and using vise grips to remove but it's not budging.

looks like not enouph room to get two nuts on there to jam. if you have a mig welder. you can put one nut on and tack the nut on with a mig. then take off the stud with a wrench.

 

[chrisf]

Personally, I'd just thread two bolts together really tight, then just wind the stud out.

--Chris